In 2017, Chapman was diagnosed with throat cancer after seeing a doctor for a "nagging cough." The tumor was removed, and she was considered cancer free. Later, however, she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

Her husband, famous bounty hunter, Duane "Dog" Chapman tweeted a sweet farewell to his wife.

The pair is best known for their series, Dog the Bounty hunter which took place in both Colorado and Hawaii.